Wednesday 29 April 2015

Spring is here

It's been a funny couple of weeks in Chamonix, with bad weather constantly being forecast but never quite arriving. There's been the odd spell of rain but generally the sun has been out more than it hasn't recently. With options for climbing and skiing plentiful, Sharon and I decided to have a "variety is the spice of life" day and shot up the Via Corda above Les Bois before a couple of hours spring skiing at Grand Montets.


Sharon on the Via Corda

Ski conditions seem quite good right now, with plentiful spring snow on sunny aspects and some fresh, cold stuff on the north faces. Could be plenty of life left in winter yet!

Monday 13 April 2015

Salluard route, Pic Adolphe Rey

This long spell of good weather is now into a second week so although there is spring snow to be had, it was decided that yesterday was going to be a climbing day. The Salluard route had long been on the list as a good option in spring so we headed for the Midi bright and early to get the jump on the crowds.

Needless to say, Compagnie du Mont Blanc didn't make life easy and couldn't quite decide whether you needed a reservation or not, the result being that (after much unnecessary confusion) we only managed to get the third bin, despite having been at the front of the queue.

With the Compagnie du Mont Blanc having set the tone of general incompetence, we continued it for the first couple of hours, with Tom realising he'd forgotten his sunglasses (thankfully they sell them at the top of the Midi), me dropping my lift pass on the first pitch, and Peter reaching the first belay ledge and ranting about how there was no bolted belay....


Peter and the "missing" belay that he'd failed to spot. I think here he's politely suggesting to Tom that he shouldn't forget his sunglasses if he's going to criticise!

Having all had a bad start to the day, things picked up significantly and we ended up having a brilliant time on a true Chamonix classic. I think we did the route in 8 pitches and finished off by topping out on a small pinnacle below the summit of the Pic Adolphe Rey. It is possible to carry on to the summit proper via some scrambling and a short pitch but it would mean that you can't abseil back to your kit at the foot of the route and would have to walk back along the glacier in rockboots.

All photos Peter Riley (and well done Peter for mastering wetransfer.com and getting them to me!!!)


Tom and me on the crux.


The "Diedre Lisse" (slippery groove) is the nickname given to this pitch by the Chamonix guides. Much to mine and Peter's delight, Tom offered to lead it and had "fun" thrutching his way up cold, snow filled cracks while Peter and I took in the view.


The stunning upper wall.


Me on the last move of the route.


Abbing down. The route climbs the crack to the right of me and then heads left to just below the summit tower and then climbs this via a corner which is just out of sight.

The ski down the VB was great and conditions are still good up there. The long sunny spell has meant that it's all pretty moguled but after a lean winter, I was impressed how much fun the skiing still is up there.

An uber classic route ticked, plenty of banter and a quick ski down the World's most famous off piste run; just another day in Chamonix.

Tuesday 7 April 2015

Col du Belvedere

I was supposed to be working today....

Sharon got up just after 6 in order to get to the Midi bright and early but I summoned all my willpower and stayed at home to get some work done. However, when she called at 8.15 to say that the Midi wasn't opening on time and suggested a quick trip over the Col du Belvedere, I picked up my skis.

The train timetable has changed for spring and there is now a ridiculous lack of trains from Le Buet back to Cham, so we knew we needed to be down in time to catch the 13.41 or we'd have a long wait on our hands. As it turned out, we made it and I was back at the desk by mid afternoon. You've got to love a quick hit.

Best of all, the Berard Valley was full of superb powder and was surprisingly quiet, with acres of untracked snow accessible from all the popular cols and summits. The recent snowfall reached down to around 1500m too, so the Valley looks much more snowy than it did 10 days ago. This has been by no means a vintage winter but we've now got enough snow that we should be in for a decent spring touring season. Can't wait!


Stunning views from Lac Blanc


Me heading for the Col


Yet more stunning views


Sharon skiing the steep upper section on the far side of the col


That nice moment when you realise that the descent you're about to do is full of deep powder


Looking back up at the col


Sharon in the fresh stuff


Me too

Sunday 5 April 2015

Sun!

The last week has seen heavy snowfall here in Cham (which we really needed) and now this is the forecast - 


Should be a good week! I missed all the powder days last week as I was doing some fine tourism and visiting family in Cambridge and Belfast but I'm now back and looking forward to making up for lost time. I didn't exactly have a bad week though....


Majestic Cambridge


The Giant's Causeway, off the Antrim coast.


The rugged beauty of Northern Ireland. This is actually where you park to climb at the legendary crag of Fairhead. I wanted to go and have a look at the routes but, lacking a guidebook, couldn't be bothered bashing around a rainy cliff top looking for them.


Signing the Peace Wall in Belfast. We did a 90 minute political tour (which turned into 2 and a half hours due to the enthusiasm of Mark, who runs NI Black Taxi Tours) and it was amazing. If you find yourself in Belfast, give Mark a shout and go on a drive with him, it was absolutely fantastic. We've decided we'll book him for a full day next time!


It had to be.